The fortress complex of Ehinos is one of the 21 fortresses of the Metaxas Line -ranking third in size among them, built during the 1936-41 timeframe. It is located on the northern and eastern sides of Hill Kroussa (780 m), a few kilometres south of the Greek – Bulgarian border, in the mountainous region of Xanthi. Its mission was to stop any attacks from the direction of Melivoia through Ehinos to Xanthi, and to intercept with artillery fire any movement on the road connecting Pachni with Glafki.
The complex consisted of four independent works, named “Σ” (Sigma), “M” (Mi), “Isaurus” and “Anarrotirion” (Infirmary). Unlike the rest of the complexes of the Line, its secondary works lacked underground communication with the main one, Isaurus. The total length of its tunnels was 1229 meters, while, theoretically, its wartime force would consist of 26 officers and 806 NCOs and enlisted men, with an armament of 2 75mm Skoda Model 19, 1 102 mm Krupp, 1 20mm AA and 2 37mm AT guns, 4 mortars, 90 MGs, 18 LMGs and 43 grenade launchers. The reality turned out to be different, though: On April 6, 1941, the garrison consisted of only 20 officers and 645 ORs, under the command of Infantry Major Christos Drakousis, while 45 of the MGs and all guns had been removed and transferred to the Albanian Front alongside with their crews.
At dawn of April 6, the defenders of Ehinos watched the flares of the forward border posts light the sky. The German advance was slow, due to the demolitions of the retreating Greek troops of the advanced positions. Later that morning, the faster moving motorcyclists and infantrymen of the II/382 Battalion were stopped by the fire of the fort. Any further advance was halted, the attacking troops waiting for armor and artillery support, which was late to arrive, due to the necessary repairs that had to be made on the destroyed bridges and roads of the area.
On April 7, the Germans had already outflanked the fortress from the west and were advancing along the river Nestos, engaging in skirmishes with the defensive positions of the Nestos Brigade. The attack commenced again, with the cover of heavy artillery and aerial bombardments. Although the artillery pieces aimed directly against the firing slits of the MG positions, these were still resisting, their crews inflicting casualties on the two attacking companies of Infantry and Pioneers. Concentrated against "M", the close and hand-to-hand combat was fierce, with the defenders returning the hand grenades thrown at their positions. With this first attack repelled, the German pioneers attempted to clear their way to “M” with flame throwers and explosives during the night, again with no success. In the meantime, the easternmost fortress of the Line, “Nymphaea”, had surrendered, while the attackers, having already outflanked it, were advancing towards the cities of Komotini and Xanthi. “Ehinos” was completely cut off.
On April 8, the German effort was again concentrated against “M”, the weakest work of the complex. The fight continued until the afternoon, with the two sides engaging once more in close and hand-to-hand combat. The Germans managed to reach the top of “M” and blow up some of the surface works and tunnels, gaining entry to them, with "Isaurus" being unable to offer supporting fire, having depleted its mortar shells. The defenders kept resisting in the narrow tunnels, but the remaining force (about 60 men) were forced to surrender, after an attack with smoke grenades, which created an asphyxiating environment. The Greeks counterattacked during the night, trying to recapture “M”, but they were forced to retreat. A further smoke grenade / gas attack was launched against the “Infirmary", the men of which retreated to “Isaurus”.
The remaining works were trying to repel the attacking Germans, but the ammunition was running low and the heavy weapons had been rendered useless by the direct artillery hits and the heavy fighting. With only three firing positions still active, the CO gathered his officers later that night and announced his decision to abandon the complex. The remaining force would destroy all communications equipment and food supplies, and move west, carrying the wounded, to continue the fight on the left bank of the river Nestos. Carrying out the order, the men abandoned their posts in order and moved to the next village, Kentavros, where they were informed that the fortress had been outflanked from all sides and had been resisting alone for almost a day, as the Germans had already reached Xanthi, 30km south. With everything lost, the majority of the defenders of Ehinos had no other option than to surrender. The CO of the 164th Infantry Division congratulated Major Drakousis, saying that “You are a brave army and deserve of a better fate”.
As the original purpose of the Metaxas Line was to defend Northern Greece against a Bulgarian invasion in the aftermath the Greek – Bulgarian and the First World Wars, the Bulgarian occupying army had a chance to destroy the Fortresses that were located in the zone that was handed over to them by the Germans. The initial plan was to completely destroy the complexes, but since the cost for such an operation was extremely high, it was confined to the destruction of the independent surface positions and the entrances to the tunnels.
During the 1946-49 Civil War, Ehinos was the base of the governmental 555 and 559 Infantry Battalions. Some troops were stationed on the hill during the 1974 mobilization and some works were restored during the last years of the Cold War.
Map showing the German movements between April 6 and 8.
The village of Ehinos during the '30s.
View of the fortified hill from the North.
Exterior views of "Isaurus"
Monument with the names of the fallen, near the entrance of “Isaurus”. The concrete comes from the destroyed fortifications.
One of the two reconstructed entrances of "Isaurus".
The second entrance.
Wartime machine gun position.
Blown up surface works.
Blown up surface works.
A Cold War addition: M24 “Chaffee” turret in a static defense role on top of “Isaurus”.
Ventilation tube. A post-war modification of the original design, which prevented smoke grenades from being thrown into the works through them, since these appeared to be a weak spot in the 1941 fights.
Inside "Isaurus" First level
Interior of the M24 turret.
MG position.
MG position.
Stairs to the second level.
Second level
Third level
On the road to the barracks
View to the North, to the direction of the German attack. It’s easy to understand why the location was chosen as a fortified defensive spot.
Blown up surface work on the right of the road, heading to the barracks.
Barracks
Surface works and entrances to the tunnels
View to the east from the top of Kroussa. You can see the entrance of a surface MG position. It’s also easy to see how protected the flanks were.
View of the barracks from the top of the hill.
More surface MG positions close to the top of Kroussa.
An entrance to the tunnels, unfortunately flooded.